Plantation River Tour

Wacca Wache Marina

Last week a small group of us went on the Plantation River Tour on the Waccamaw River, departing from the Wacca Wache Marina in Murrells Inlet.  The Pear Trees were all in bloom and quite beautiful.  

 

Here we are aboard the Waccamaw Lady (L:R):  Cal, Cathy, Paul, Me, John, Jackie, Judy and Gord, ready to head on down the river for a 2-hour tour.

Our Group (back row)

Along the ride we saw rice plantations, trunk gates, slave cabins, moss-laden oak trees, turtles, an alligator, a white egret and osprey nesting.

 

Interesting root formations along the banks of the Waccamaw River

Along the route we pass Sandy Island.  It The island is about 9,000 acres (36 km²) of a prehistoric sand dune.  It is bounded east and west by the rivers, on the north by Bull Creek, and on the south by Thoroughfare Creek.  The northern part of the island is higher and is mostly a longleaf pine forest, which provides a refuge for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and numerous other species of plants and animals.  On the southern, lower end of the island are the remnants of old rice plantations, with the watergates and earthwork canals, built by African slaves skilled in rice culture. Such development was used to manage the water supply for irrigating the rice fields.

A small community in the south is made up of a few families who are descendants of former salves. Some still work the rice fields. The island is only accessible by boat, and workers and school children commute to the mainland daily for work and school.

Boat used for daily transportation to and from Sandy Island

A General Store on Sandy Island

Osprey and nest

 

 

Alligator sunning

Some of the homes and plantations we saw along the tour. 

 

 

Chicora Woods

Great White Egret

 

Trunk Gates

Turtles sunning on a rock

It was a beautiful morning for the tour and the scenery was quite nice.

Here we are pulling into the dock after our tour and everyone has cool drinks and food on their minds.

So we treat ourselves to a great lunch on the deck at one of our favourite restaurant in the area, Hannah Banana's Sunshine Cabana.  What a great day with friends.

A Great Birthday

Well, the birthday guy had a great day (17 February), so he said. He started his morning requesting a homemade omelette and coffee for his breakfast and then relaxed for a couple of hours on our sunny deck reading his newspaper and watching the ocean waves.

We took a long beach walk together and enjoyed the view of a couple of dolphins swimming close by.

The afternoon and evening were spent at Paul's new favourite place, Hannah Banana's Sunshine Cabana in Murrells Inlet. Unfortunately the sun and wind did not cooperate as much as we could have liked so we only were able to sit outside for a little while, but long enough to enjoy a couple of cool beers and appetizers.

It is such a great place on the intercoastal waterway and we were able to watch a couple of boats go by. This one, being a local shrimp boat.


We didn't get to enjoy a colourful sunset that evening, but the sky was lovely, just the same.

We moved our little party inside once the sun went down. Their bar has quite a selection of beverages. My sister even tried a pumpkin liqueur. It was a little too spice flavoured for me.

We enjoyed a meal of great burgers and then I drove the birthday guy and my sister home.

I shouldn't say this, but - we ate so much food at dinner that we had to postpone having the birthday cake at home until the next day. Which was a good thing!

Here's to many more birthdays together cutie.....

Hannah Banana's Sunshine Cabana, Murrells Inlet, SC

On Saturday afternoon, Paul and I found this great restaurant and bar, Hannah Bananas Sunshine Cabana, on the Waccamaw River and Marina in Murrells Inlet. It was a sunny afternoon so we stopped in to have a cool drink and a snack, while enjoying the view. The waitress told us that Salty Dog, local performers, would be playing on Sunday afternoon so we thought about coming back.

Hannah's also offer a "sober shuttle". If you call, they will pick you up at home and bring you back again, after your evening at their pub.

We ordered a totally unhealthy snack of deep fried potato chips covered in blue cheese and green onions with a ranch dipping sauce. And since I am unable to get Molson Canadian beer here in the US pubs, I have found a close second, in taste - Yuengling (ying-ling) Amber Lager which is really nice.

We stayed at Hannah's until just about sunset.


Sunday afternoon had the perfect temperature to sit outside on a deck, drinking a cool one(s) and enjoying live music, with the sun shining. Salty Dog played a variety of music, from country to bluegrass.

Paul was in his element - live music!

Hannah's is surrounded by boats from the marina. Some of its customers motor up in their boat and dock at the restaurant.

I think Paul and I have found a new place to eat out as they serve a great burger also.